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Submitted: 7/15/22 • Approved: 7/16/22 • Last Updated: 7/19/22 • R525309-G0-S3
SEAMAN FIRST CLASS US Navy
January 15, 1926-August 23, 2013
*Photo, courtesy of Mary (Coggin) Russell
*Obituary
(Published in Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 26, 2013)
Freeman H. Melton Jr., 87, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2013.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church of Friona with the Rev. Brett Hoyle and Rev. Kurt Borden officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery in Hereford. Arrangements are by LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Coulter Road Chapel, 8310 Coulter St.
Mr. Melton was born Jan. 15, 1926, in Wellington. He was an outstanding athlete at Wellington High School and a member of the school's Hall of Honor.
After serving two years in the Navy at the end of World War II, he attended West Texas State College on the G.I. Bill and a football scholarship. He graduated in 1949 before going on to earn his Master of Education degree. He married Rosemary Phillips in 1949.
Freeman coached high school sports for three years before becoming principal at McLean High School in 1953. By 1954, he became McLean's superintendent, making him one of the youngest top administrators in Texas.
Mr. Melton also served as superintendent of Panhandle schools and elementary principal at Friona, where he retired in 1987.
He was an avid golfer and a devout member of First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Melton was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Conrad; and a sister, Mozelle.
Survivors include his wife, Rosemary; two daughters, Julie Winegeart and husband Eddie and Joyce Vance and husband Frank, all of Amarillo; two sons, Steve Melton of Austin and Paul Melton and wife Jan of Fort Worth; a sister, Claudine Elliott of Muleshoe; five grandchildren, Heath Haseloff of Dallas, Desirae Hughes of Amarillo, Shawna Nichols of College Station, Jennifer McClellan of San Diego, Calif., and Britton Melton of Fort Worth; and four great-grandchildren.
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Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
Name: Freeman H Melton
Date of Birth: 15 Jan 1926
Gender: Male
Birth County: Collingsworth
Father's Name: Freeman H Melton
Mother's name: Sudie Annie Stephen
Roll number: 1926_0004
Contributed on 7/15/22 by neldapat
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Record #: 525309